Roger Lee Hayden is ready for a strong race this weekend at home at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, he will compete for the LCR Honda squad as a substitute for the injured Randy de Puniet.

Hayden is aware of the tough challenge slotting into the premier class, however the 27 year old says he is prepared for the battle and hopes his talented potential at a circuit he knows well is shown.

“I have an uphill battle I guess in not knowing the bike and never having ridden it against the best riders in the world, but it’s something I knew when I accepted the challenge,” says Hayden. “My season in World Superbike hasn’t been great so I look at this as an opportunity to put on a good show. It’s not every day you get asked to race in your home GP.”

Commenting on his goals for the weekend, he adds, “I want to go there and do a good job, to show that I am a capable rider, and to get a good job for next year, whether that’s in MotoGP, Moto2 or World Superbikes. Everybody comes to Laguna and everybody pays attention to the GP. At the same time I know that I have never ridden the bike before and it’s been a long time since I rode a GP bike, which was just the once (in 2007 as a wildcard at Laguna). I’m not going to prove anything if I go there and crash the bike. I don’t have big expectations but at the same time I want to do a good job and keep it on two wheels!”

Sibling Nicky was also a part in orchestrating the move, with Roger Lee stating that LCR team owner Lucio Cecchinello approached him to ask about his younger brother’s availability. Kevin Schwantz also had a role, which included a phone call from Cecchinello shortly after.

“I agreed to it pretty much straight away,” said Hayden. “The only problem was that I’m doing the Moto2 race (as a wildcard) at Indianapolis for American Honda, so I kind of had to get their permission. I was already committed to them and I didn’t want them thinking I was taking any opportunity that came up, and they were great about it. It all happened pretty quickly, I was just blown away. In a 15-minute span I had a text (from Nicky) asking me if I was interested in riding at Laguna, and phone calls from Kevin and Lucio… I was like: ‘What’s going on?!’.”

Nicky’s advice was an important factor, Roger Lee continus to explain, “He just told me to think about it at first, because I was riding a superbike the weekend before, two days later I was testing a Moto2 bike for American Honda, and now I’ll be riding a MotoGP bike. He’s been very supportive, and has helped speed things along with getting information to the team and back to me. He played a big part in it. On a race weekend he has a lot of stuff going on himself.”

On the idea of challenging with his brother in the event, he adds, “I haven’t really thought about that! But I’d like it because it would mean I’d be doing a pretty good job if I’m battling that high up the field! I think however that would be setting my expectations on a bit of an unrealistic level. If it happened I would like it, but I know it’s highly unlikely.”

Hayden also discussed that he will be racing a MotoGP bike this weekend, then a Moto2 at Indy only five weeks afterwards.

“I’m just happy to be getting these opportunities in whatever order they come in,” he states. “Maybe riding a MotoGP bike at Laguna might be better for me because I actually know the track. With Indy I have never raced there, so I think learning it on a 600cc where you don’t have so many things to deal with such as electronics and slower speeds might be a little bit easier.”